Checks and Balances

I wanted to share with you the news that I have been elected by the Democratic Caucus as the Chairman designate of the House Judiciary Committee in the 110th Congress. While I am now the Chairman-designate, I will not assume the Chairmanship until January when the new Congress is sworn in on January 4. I am very honored to be elected by my colleagues to this important position.

I also am very grateful to you (the progressive blogging community). Together, we helped bring public attention to the Downing Street Minutes , warrantless wiretapping, and the disenfranchisement of Ohio voters and on many, many other fronts. While the public has expressed its concern about these issues, the Republican Congress was largely derelict in looking at any of the Bush administration's excesses. Thankfully, these -- and other -- areas will now be subject to greater scrutiny and examination, and the lack of oversight of the last six years will finally yield to checks and balances.

For my part, I believe this election was very much about restoring transparency and accountability to Washington and I will seek to do that as Chairman. I think the Judiciary Committee should become a place where we tackle important legislative issues, like lobbying reform and election reform, and where we ascertain the truth for the American people. I hope I will be the kind of Chairman you can be proud of.

It won't happen overnight. There is the inevitable lag between the election, the lame duck session of Congress, and the transition to the Majority. And there is so much left undone over the last six years.

Most importantly, I wish you a happy holiday season and I thank you for everything you have done in the past and will continue to do in the New Year to build a better democracy.

Your Friend,

John Conyers, Jr.

Check out the link to Downing Street Minutes . It links to a YouTube excerpt from Rep. Conyers infamous "basement hearings." Conyers was forced by the Republican Controlled Congress to hold hearings about the Bush Administration'’s conduct in entering us into this Middle-East Misadventure in a basement room, a clear snub and display of powerinduced arrogance.

Hopefully, Rep. Conyers will reject the understandable temptation for getting payback on his Republican foes. I hope he will conduct thorough, professional investigations that will lead to convictions. I wonder if any will be held accountable?

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